Getting a tradie quote should be straightforward. You describe the job, they tell you what it'll cost, you decide whether to proceed. But too often, quotes arrive with vague line items, inflated hours, and mystery charges that make it almost impossible to know if you're getting a fair deal. Here are five red flags we see again and again — and what to do about each one.
🚩 Red Flag #1: No Itemised Breakdown
If your quote is just a single total with no detail on labour, materials, or individual line items, you have no way to evaluate whether the price is reasonable. A professional tradie should be able to explain where every dollar is going.
What to do: Ask for a written, itemised quote before you agree to anything. If a tradie refuses to break down their pricing, that tells you something. Any reputable professional is happy to show their working — they'd do the same if they were hiring someone for their own home.
A proper quote should separately list the call-out or inspection fee, labour (either hourly rate x estimated hours, or a fixed price), each material or part, any disposal or waste removal charges, and GST. If it doesn't have these, ask for them.
🚩 Red Flag #2: Vague "Sundries" or "Miscellaneous" Over $50
Small consumables like screws, tape, sealant and cable ties are a normal part of any job. But they should cost $20 to $50 at most. When "sundries" or "miscellaneous" creep above $50-100, it's often a padding tactic to inflate the total without you noticing.
What to do: Simply ask: "Can you itemise the sundries for me?" If it's legitimate, they'll have no issue listing the specific items. If they can't or won't explain it, that's your answer.
🚩 Red Flag #3: Labour Hours That Don't Add Up
A leaking tap repair shouldn't take 4 hours. Replacing a power point shouldn't be a half-day job. If the quoted labour hours seem high for what's a relatively standard task, the estimate might be inflated.
What to do: Ask the tradie directly: "Is this a one-person or two-person job?" and "How long do you expect this to take?" Two tradies at $120/hr for 4 hours is $960 in labour alone — make sure the scope actually requires that. Also ask whether the hours include travel time, setup, and cleanup, or just the work itself.
For context, here are rough timeframes for common jobs: a leaking tap repair is typically 30-60 minutes, a single powerpoint installation is 1-2 hours, a hot water system replacement is 3-5 hours, and a standard toilet replacement is 1-2 hours. If your quote shows significantly more time than these ranges, ask why.
🚩 Red Flag #4: Massive Markup on Materials
Tradies typically mark up materials by 10-30% to cover procurement time and warranty backing. That's normal and fair. But charging $800 for a mixer tap you can buy at Bunnings for $200 is not a markup — it's a mark-up-and-over.
What to do: For major items like fixtures, appliances, or fittings, do a quick Google search for the brand and model quoted. If the retail price is dramatically lower than what's on the quote, ask: "Would you be open to me supplying this item myself?" Many tradies will agree, though some prefer to supply materials themselves for warranty reasons — which is reasonable, but the markup should still be in the 10-30% range.
🚩 Red Flag #5: No Licence Number, ABN, or Insurance Details
In Australia, trades like plumbing, electrical, and gas fitting are licensed. A legitimate tradie will have their licence number and ABN on their quote. If these are missing, you may be dealing with an unlicensed operator — and that puts you at risk.
What to do: Check their licence on the relevant state register. In Victoria, that's the Victorian Building Authority. In NSW, it's NSW Fair Trading. An unlicensed tradie might offer a cheaper quote, but if something goes wrong — a burst pipe, an electrical fire — you'll have no recourse, no insurance claim, and potentially a compliance nightmare if you ever sell the property.
💡 None of these red flags necessarily means you're being ripped off. They're signals to ask more questions. Most tradies are honest professionals — these checks just help you separate the good operators from the few who aren't.
The Easiest Way to Check a Quote
Reading through line items and Googling prices works, but it takes time. If you want a fast, no-hassle way to check whether your quote stacks up, TradieTruth does the work for you. Upload your quote — photo or PDF — and get an instant breakdown of every line item compared against Australian pricing data, with specific red flags highlighted and questions tailored to your quote.
🏠 Also buying a property? Don't just check the quote — check the property. NestCheck gives you a full risk profile for any Victorian address, covering bushfire zones, flood risk, crime rates, schools, and transport. Free instant report.